Walk 49 A:- Blaxland to Springwood via Bunyan LO and Magdala Creek At A Glance
Route Summary:- This walk goes for 0.45 km. along Blaxland streets to the start of Pippas Pass Track, then gently down along this for about 1 km. to the end of the Florabella Track and very steeply down on poor track to Glenbrook that is crossed on rocks, then steeply up for 0.35 km. on faint winding track a lookout at the top of ridge; then for about 2.75 km. along this ridge on clearer track to a track junction with a wider track and this for about 1 km. to Bunyan Lookout, then down on constructed track to Glenbrook Creek with another crossing on rocks; then for about 1.3 km. along the partly overgrown Sassafras Gully Track to Perch Ponds and then to Springwood for about 4 km along Magdala Creek on the Magdala Creek Track with the final 0.5 km. along Springwood streets
RQI:- 94
Highlights:- Splendid views; remote bush; dramatic sandstone formations; Glenbrook Creek
Negatives :- Nil
Length:- 12.9 km.
Grade:- Hard to Medium
Weather:_All weather except when creeks in flood
Continuous walking time with a few 3-4 min. stops and one 12 min. stop:-
4 hrs
Train Time from Central to Start :-. 1 hr. 7 mins.; Western Line; every hour.
Train Time from finish to Central:-. 1 hr. 19 mins.; Western Line; every hour.
Total Climb :- 440 m.
Total Descent :- 300 m.
Water:- Blaxland; Springwood
Toilets:- Blaxland; Springwood
Café/Kiosk :- Blaxland; Springwood
Published 1:25,000 Map :- Springwood; Penrith
Walk 49A Track Notes
Blaxland to Springwood via Magdala Creek Exit
08/12/13 updated 24/11/15
km/Hrs.min Kilometers in bold are shown on map
0.00/0.00 Walk up Blaxland Station Steps, turn right, cross Gt. Western Highway on overhead bridge and take steps down to Station St. at its intersection with the Gw. Highway. Walk down to end of Station St. at T junction with Hope St. (unsignposted).There are toilets half way down Station St.
0.07/0.02 At junction with Hope St., turn left and follow Hope St till it curves to the right, and you see a building marked ‘Library’ a little downhill on your right
0.28/0.05 At Library, turn right and walk down bitumen path to the Library and walk along covered verandah of the library building; there are public toilets here; at the end of the covered verandah, take the ramp down to the library car park.
0.44/0.07 At car park, turn right and walk down to the bottom of car park, then turn left onto a grassy area; walk about 10 meters over this, then turn right to the start of Pippas Pass track head (unsignposted)
0.45/0.08 At start of Pippas Pass track; follow this down.
0.52/0.09 Acute track split at graffiti covered cave overhang; veer right.
0.55/0.11 Track T junction ; take track to the right, and immediately cross Pippas Creek on rock outcrop, the turn left, Creek now on left.
0.62/0.12 Cave overhang with graffiti and signs of recent habitation; continue straight.
0.63/0.12 Track crosses Pippas Creek, Creek now on right; track mostly clear and easy to follow.
0.66/0.13 Track junction after crossing small tributary creek; veer right; Pippas Creek still on right, now in deeper valley.
1.00/0.19 Track crosses Pippas Creek, now on left.
1.43/0.27 Track T junction with ‘Florabella Pass’ painted on rock face immediately in front, to the left; track on right up stone steps, goes to Ross St. exit; go left and after about 10 meters, note more stone steps on right to Ross St. exit; continue straight past these.
1.46/0.29 Track junction and signage:- ‘ Florabella Pass’ high up on tree in front, and ‘Exit via Ross Street’ on another tree on right; this location is the end of Pippas Pass and the start of Florabella Pass along good track straight on; leave the main track here and take the narrow walking track down ; it leaves the main track acutely on left just in front of the tree with the ‘Florabella Paass’ sign; this track zig zags steeply down, in places with constructed sandstone steps or steps cut into rock face.
1.54/0.32 Track veers left over narrow shelf, then look for steps cut into sandstone down a 5 meter inclined cliff; apparent track split at base of cliff- ignore faint track on right, continue down
1.56/0.33 At base of unconstructed 2.5 meter cliff descent, another apparent track split; again ignore track on right; continue down on sandstone steps.
1.57/0.24 Track split; take track on right. Track straight down also goes to Glenbrook Creek but is more difficult.
1.58/0.36 Track at Glenbrook Creek; cross Glenbrook Creek here on rocks at rapids just down from where the track ends.
1.60/0.37 Middle of Glenbrook Creek; after crossing, walk up boulder creek bank and valley talus for about 15 meters to find a faint walking track in both directions parallel to the Creek; then turn right and follow this faint track for about 20 meters upstream, Creek on right, to a track junction on left marked by a stone cairn and bunting.
1.62/0.39 At track junction with stone cairn; take faint track uphill, on left; after about 30 m. you come to a large boulder with an apparent track T junction; go right and follow a faint walking track as it winds up over the lower cliff line.
1.78 /0.49 After winding gently up, track now near top of lower cliff line; stone cairn indicates sharp left turn more steeply up through gap in cliff; track indistinct here between upper and lower cliff, but veer left and follow red bunting to base of upper cliff.
1.93/0.54 At base of upper cliff, veer right and follow red bunting and cairns through gaps in upper cliff to a large stone cairn at the top; this is St Helena Lookout
1.97/0.57 At top of ridge; excellent views; follow reasonably clear walking pad- The Bullant Track- that goes along ridge crest for nearly 3 km.; more obscure portions marked with stone cairns
4.73/1.37 Track Y junction with main Glenbrook to Springwood walking track just before large fallen tree; veer right right to merege with the good walking track after about 15 meters
5.22/1.42 Track junction and signage:- ‘ Lost World 12 minutes’ for track on left; continue straight
5.66/1.49 At Bunyan Lookout; after enjoying the view, walk back on track for about 20 meters to an acute track junction marked with a stone cairn; now take the track that goes acutely to the right, initially for about 30 meters along cliff edge, then it turns right and descends between two rock outcrops
6.19/2.02 After winding its way down spur, track now on top of a cliff; look for 5 raised constructed steps down that at first look like a wall; take these down, then turn right and continue on track;
The track down from Bunyan Lookout to Glenbrook creek is a constructed track, mostly easy to follow; leaf covered steps may be slippery
6.46/2.12 Track Y junction near valley floor; veer left; after 5-10 meters another track T junction; ignore fainter track on right; continue straight on track- it initially goes upstream, more or less parallel to Glenbrook Creek but then veers gradually towards Glenbrook Creek on boulders; two stone cairns mark Creek crossing on boulders
6.56/2.15 Middle of Glenbrook Creek; after crossing, walk a few meters up the bank pitted sandstone outcrop, then turn left and walk upstream on outcrop for about 35 meters, Creek on left, to stone steps leading up.
6.60/2.17 At stone steps; take these up to track junction.
6.68/2.18 Track T junction and signage; take the ‘ Perch Ponds 1.4 km’ track on left; now follow this good walking track upstream, Glenbrook Creek on left
6.73/2.19 At good campsite with large pool in Glenbrook Creek; track then veers right uphill and stays well above Glenbrook Creek, still on left.
6.77/2.22 Track junction; track on left goes down to Glenbrook creek; continue straight, then more steeply up to track junction
7.29/2.33 Major track junction and signboard:- ‘ Martins Lookout 1.3 km’ backtrack, ‘Perch Ponds 700 m’ track on left; there is also an unsignposted track going steeply uphill on steps- it probably also goes to Martins Lookout; go left towards Perch Ponds
7.83/2.42 Crossing Magdela Creek to Perch Ponds track junction on the other side
7.86/2.43 At Perch Ponds; major track junction with signage:- ‘Sassafras Gully Track’ and ‘ Faulconbridge Station 6.3 km’ straight on; ‘Springwood Station 4.4km’ track uphill on right; lunch here
7.86/2.55 Resume walk after lunch; turn right uphill and follow track to Springwood Station along Magdala Creek, past Martins and Magdala Falls on right; this is a very pleasant walking track with plenty of scenery variations; Magdala Creek is crossed several times, and in the first 1.5 km there are green posts on each side of the creek at crossings, but arrows on these posts do not necessarily point in the right direction; creek crossings on remainder of walk are obvious.
11.44/3.52 Track split and sign- Springwood Station 800 meters on left track; right track goes to Raymond Road
11.93/4.01 End of Magdala Creek Track; picnic area; sealed road uphill to Springwood Avenue
12.06/4.04 Cross Springwood Avenue and walk through car park to Macquarie Road; cross Macquarie Road turn left and follow this for about 150 meters to the Springwood Station underpass.
12.41/4.09 Springwood Station; end of walk
Route Quality Index
On public vehicular roads:- 0.76 km/6%
On walking tracks:- 11.65 km/ 94%
TQI=94+0=94
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